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 |   Exploring the future through the present. One day at a time. |
| A few people have expressed concern that I may so focus on an editor's expectations I will lose my voice. As with everything in life it's a matter of balance. To help avoid losing my voice, I'm seeking magazines and publishers who would be interested in what I've already written. I'm not focusing on a single one and in turn write what I think they want. To do so means failure. Most readers can spot a fraud, and editors are even more attuned to a disingenuous writer. Editors (and readers) want articles or stories that come from a writer's heart while at the same time meet their subject and grammatical needs. No matter how well written something is, if the heart isn't in it, the words will always reflect that. Writers also need to be careful not to allow the pendulum to swing in the opposite direction, and bristle when an editor either wants specific changes and/or additions, or say, "Thanks, but this doesn't meet our needs." Writers aren't perfect, and many times editors can spot weaknesses we don't see. An additional paragraph, a reworded or eliminated sentence, or a different focus on a subject isn't going to destroy our voice. In fact, chances are an editor can help our voice sing a little bit louder and more on key. If not, well then it's not a publication we want our name attached to anyway. If we want our words to appear in a magazine, on the shelf of a book store, or even sell many copies of a self-published book, we need to believe in our words, but at the same time leave our ego at the door. |
| The last time I attended the Christian Writers Guild conference, I made a serious boo-boo. I decided to research naught into the attending magazine and book editors. I assumed the attitude, "If it's God's will, it will happen." Yeah, that was long before I learned God is not my paladin. He won't automatically come to my rescue when I dig myself into a hole (or merely sit there as the world crumbles around me). It's when I follow him and not expect him to follow me that things happen. Each editor I talked to bombed -- okay, not really. I received some positive feedback in that they liked my writing. The problem came from choosing articles that didn't fit their publication. Because of this major failure on my part, I'm terrified of making the same mistake this time around. I began to fight against this terror with purchasing a short book entitled "Writers Conference Survival Guide" by Meredith Efken. In it she gives sage advice on how to prepare for the conference including not only researching into the publication, but the editors themselves. See if they keep an online journal, or have done interviews. I searched two book editors so far, and found quite a few interviews by each. Talk about an eye-opener! I gained insight into what they expect to see in a manuscript including specifics such as writing good dialogue. The research has boosted my confidence, and my terror has shrunk to mere discomfort. With these two editors at least I can approach them with assurance they'll like my story. Of course nothing is guaranteed, but it's not just a guess anymore. It's an educated one. Because of that, I know I will approach them with less timidity. Next on my list is researching magazines and the attending editors, and structure any articles according to their needs. After that I'll create a pitch-sheet which is basically an open query letter of my manuscript. Having that in front of me as I talk to an editor will keep me focused on why I'm there, and just in case I get so flustered I forget my name. Am I following God more this time around? Time will tell. The point is I'm working instead of being lazy and expecting God to do it all. |
| Along with presenting my book at the conference, I'd like to pound the pavement with a few of my articles. One of my favorites talks about what Dave and I went through to have Thomas. I found a magazine that accepts articles dealing with infertility, so I logged on to their website and read a few of them. Of the three I read, they all focused on the heartbreak of infertility, and how God will, if not fill the void where a child should be, accept that having a child will not happen. God's not punishing those who can't have children, but instead he has a grander purpose in mind. My initial reaction was two-fold: They won't accept my article, because God 'granted' our desire to have a child. I then felt guilty for it. Why did Dave and I "succeed" when so many others "fail?" And another question: Why should I feel guilty? At what point in our history has success become a sin? I'm not talking about fertility, but economic, emotional and familial success. I drive a 2004 Jeep Cherokee, own my own house, am happily married, gainfully employed, and don't live from paycheck to paycheck. When I talk to those who have less, I honestly want to hide that success. I admit it's due to fear of jealousy, being accused of living a charmed life, and not understanding the harsh life of the down-trodden. We as a society have accepted the attitude that to be poor is to be moral and righteous. The rich and successful cause all the evil in the world, and therefore should be punished. I don't want to be punished, so I hide my worldly blessings. I further this internal discussion with asking, "What's wrong with hope, and a positive outcome?" Does this magazine only want to speak to an audience without the hope of positively answered prayer? To be fair, I know they don't. They're not focused on when God's response is not what we anticipate, but in turning to God regardless of our hopes and dreams. It's about giving up those hopes and dreams to him. He should be our focus, not whether or not we have that child, get that job, or live in that house. The only way to discover if this magazine would accept my article is by showing it to them. I can always hope for success, as long as I don't confuse my hopes with expectations. I learned that lesson with trying to conceive, and I could weave that lesson into the article. |
| And another time-waster. This is a good time-waster, though. Using my left-brain most of the day, I need to give my right-brain some exercise -- if for no other reason than to give my left-brain much needed rest. I purchased a Wacom Bamboo Fun graphics tablet as a Christmas present to myself. It arrived today, and I've been playing with it for the last hour. Most of that time I spent loading the software. I then set out to create my very first drawing. As with all tools, I need to practice with it a lot before I gain any proficiency. This little drawing shows well how much practice I need: ** Image ID #1512530 Unavailable ** It's not great, but not terrible either. I used Corel Painter IX.5 and the calligraphy pen tool. I will need to play with both the software and the tablet for months before I learn half of their capabilities. It'll be fun, though, and that's the biggest reward -- geek that I am. |
| "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." ~ Anais Nin A friend showed me that quote a while back, and is appropriate for the first entry of 2009. You see, I got plans, and I will need courage in order to make those plans succeed. To continue to pound on the same subject of writing and publishing (I beg your forgiveness), I need courage to present my manuscript to two publishers attending the writers conference, perhaps an agent (though I'm not sure he'll accept science fiction). It would be so easy to merely attend classes and reconnect with friends, convinced the idea of publishing is a mere dream. It won't happen, and not only because I want it. I've yet to shake the certainty God wants this as well. Strange, considering the world is supposed to end in 2012 . . . (Note: I don't believe it will, but if it does, I control it naught. No sense in worrying about it). Whenever I want to back away -- allow my life to shrink a little -- God reminds me to depend on him. He is my strength. As long as I hold on to him and allow him to lead me, nothing is impossible. What will happen this new year? The optimist that I am, I hope for great things. I look forward to my son's first birthday, sell copies of my novella (once I start marketing more aggressively -- scary stuff that), sell my other novel to a publisher, polish up the second book, and perhaps begin the third. Internally, though, I hope to grow closer to God. Since I no longer attend Bible study classes, I've not read my Bible, take time for devotion, or even pray with complete focus. Why is that? After all, I spend time with my husband and son knowing it's necessary for a healthy relationship. Do I not love God at least as much if not more? I think it boils down to knowing God is wherever I am, and that he loves me whether or not I pay close attention to him. Yet I don’t' want to take him for granted. To be fair, I talk to him throughout the day. He's my first thought in the morning, and more often than not my last thought at night. Is that enough? Sure. Sometimes it's okay to allow a relationship to remain comfortable, with no challenges or surprises. As long as it doesn't remain that way. Otherwise it stagnates. Now for a little fun: Invalid Photo #1018513 Invalid Photo #1018514 Invalid Photo #1018515 Invalid Photo #1018516 Invalid Photo #1018517 Last thing: What are your hopes for 2009? |
| An article I know many of you will appreciate: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081230/ap_on_re_us/banned_words Happy New Year's Eve!   |
| I write this entry for the singular purpose of not doing what I need to do. Just shy of two months, my manuscript (or at least the first three chapters) needs to be ready to present to prospective publishers attending the Writing for the Soul Conference in Colorado Springs. Procrastinating to the end of the line is so typical of me. I can't remember a time when I didn't wait until the last minute to complete a project. Heck, I so despised studying in school, I developed a photographic memory. However, I studied the teachers to determine what they considered important enough to include on their tests. Sneaky? Perhaps, but it saved time, and I passed my classes with - in general - minimal effort. Writing well, however, requires study. There are no shortcuts. Luckily studying requires reading, something I enjoy. It's not a waste of time. I need to not only read about writing, but read other writers of every genre, and in multiple time periods. My dedication to these endeavors has dropped significantly, but I still absorbed a few things. Must be remnants of my photographic memory. In editing one more time, I found parts that need a complete rewrite, not only an edit. Good thing? Long term, absolutely. Short term, not so much. I want to procrastinate more, but darn it, I don't have the time. |
| Well, shucks. For the last five minutes, I've knocked on my brain to come up with a near poetic Merry Christmas message, a collection of words to make you go "Awwww" or "Wow", if not make you spill a tear or two. My brain's got nuthin. Too bad I can't exchange it for a new one. After nearly forty years, the warranty expired long ago. Looks like I need to rely on the typical. Happy Christmas and Merry New Year! May you experience nothing but joy, don't spill eggnog on your favorite Christmas sweater, or break a tooth on a slice of fruitcake. |
| One advantage to writing a blog is my complete control. I can write anything I want including brag about how good my book is, and hope you buy it based on my opinion alone. As a reader, though, it's not always wise to spend money based on the author's braggadocio (great word, huh?). After all, what do you expect authors to say about their books? That they're crap? Hardly, unless they don't want to sell many copies. When I published through Booksurge, I could have added onto the package reviews by Kirkus Discoveries starting at $399. I decided not to based mostly on the cost. I didn't think my little novella warranted such an authoritative review. If I published a full-length novel, however, I might have considered it. Besides, four people (whom I consider as authoritative) have reviewed my book so far -- and for free! A fellow author (aka Voxxylady  ) kindly made hers public, so you no longer have to take my word alone that my book is pretty darned good.You can read it here: http://lkhunsaker.blogspot.com/2008/12/book-review-reason-to-hope.html If you haven't purchased a book yet, she's holding a raffle with my book as a prize along with many others. All proceeds go to a program designed to help our injured veterans, but again, don't take my word for it. Read all about it here: http://lkhunsaker.blogspot.com/2008/12/raffling-to-support-injured.html |
| First read this article, if'n you please: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081217/ap_on_fe_st/odd_hitler_cake_10 While I agree with the father that what he named his children are just that. Names. At the same time, naming children should not be about the parent's likes or dislikes per se. They also need to be aware of how their children will be treated with regard to their names. You don't name a boy Penelope, for instance. He'd be teased mercilessly by other children for sure. He'd possibly grow up uncertain of his male identity, and wonder if his parents really wanted a girl instead of him. I changed my name from Andra to Anne for the longest time, because I tired of people mispronouncing it, and others accusing me of having a boy's name (they thought I was named Andrew). Children will find ways to make fun of anyone's name. We can't get around it, but to name a child Adolf Hitler goes a bit too far. To most people in the world, the name is synonymous with fascism, the anti-Christ and evil. It won't be children who give the poor boy a hard time, but some adults as well. My grandmother was born as Wellemina (I'm not certain of the spelling). She grew up loving that name until the first day of Kindergarten. She told the teacher her name and the woman towered over her, placed her hands on her hips and said, "Wellemina! What kind of name is Wellemina?" My grandmother went by Billie until the day she died, because from that moment on she hated her name - was even embarrassed by it. I shudder to think what the little boy in the story will endure - and his sisters. If he survives, I bet good money he'll legally change it by the time he turns 18. And he'll end up hating his parents for being so cruel. |
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